Kedzie Block I
Life Span: 1873-1892
Location: Southeast Corner Randolph and Clark
Architect: TBD
Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1874-75
Kedzie’s Bldg., 129 and 122 Randolph
Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1880
Kedzie Building, 129 and 122 Randolph
Chicago Tribune, July 9, 1874
John H. Kedzie has found that renting building is not always an easy means of earning a livelihood, and relates a chapter or his troubles in a bill filed by him against Edward Mollet. Kedzie says he is the owner of Nos. 120 and 122 Randolph street, known as Kedzie’s Building. Among his tenants is the defendant, who keeps a hash-house in the basement of No. 120. Mollet’s penchant seems to be specially directed to cooking such eatables as are noted for their odor, such as onions, cabbage, “high” meats, etc., and the smell in the present hot weather, added to the effluvia arising from an indiscriminate mass of garbage, has been such on the aristocratic noses of the tenants above, and particularly the officers of the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company (who have an office directly over Mollet’s place), that they have given Kedzie notice they will leave unless the nuisance be abated. Complainant states that, actuated by a spirit as rare as praiseworthy, he lowered Mollet’s rent the 1st of May last from $83.33 a month to $50. Notwithstanding this, the defendant lately, with a coolness which renders ice utterly unnecessary in bis restaurant, informed his landlord that he could not afford to pay any rent at all, as his business was only sufficient for his other expenses. In addition, be deigned to remark that it was his firm intention to remain where he was unless complainant would furnish him money to set him up in business at some other place.
Kedzie thinks “this ees ‘ard.” He states that there was an express provision in the lease that if any smell from below should offend the other tenants it should be suppressed on notice. He has already exhausted one stationery store of its legal cap in sending notices, but thus far without any visible effect. Complainant further alleges that he has given Mollet notice to quit; and has commenced a suit in forcible entry and detainer against him, and, therefore the stubborn tenant has no right to the premises. Still the smell comes up, and the fire burns and caldron bubbles with the unsavory concoctions. He accordingly asks as a last resort that he may have a “most gracious writ of injunction” directed against the defendant, to prevent him further attempting to rival the neighborhood of Healy Slough. The request was granted, and Kedzie is supposed to be happy.
Inter Ocean, February 14, 1891
The Kedzie Building at No. 120 and 122 Randolph street has been leased to Edward Koch. The terms are $10,400 year for the first five years and $12,000 annually for the balance of the term. The property is improved with a five-story and basement structure. The ground fronts north 50 feet on Randolph street, has a depth of 70 feet, and contains about 3,500 square feet, On a 5 per cent basis the land is worth $200,000 or $4,000 per front foot, and about $57 per square foot, The lessee will remodel the present building and add several stories to it.
- Kedzie Building I
Robinson Fire Insurance Map
1886
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